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To install a CounterStrikeSharp plugin on a Counter-Strike 2 dedicated server, install the dependency chain in this order: Metamod:Source, CounterStrikeSharp, then the plugin. Both frameworks must be installed in the server’s game/csgo directory. Metamod also needs a search-path entry in gameinfo.gi; the plugin itself is a compiled DLL placed in CounterStrikeSharp’s plugins directory.
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This guide covers a first installation, the exact folder layout, verification commands, Linux runtime requirements, upgrades, and the failure points that most often stop a plugin from loading.
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What you need before installing
Have these items ready before changing the server files:
- A running Counter-Strike 2 dedicated server and access to its
game/csgodirectory through SFTP, a control-panel file manager, or the local filesystem. - Metamod:Source 2.x Dev Build 1467 or newer with KHook support, matching the operating system of the server.
- The first-installation CounterStrikeSharp package labeled with runtime. It includes the .NET runtime required to start CounterStrikeSharp.
- A plugin release that explicitly targets CounterStrikeSharp and is compatible with the current CS2 and Metamod builds.
- Permission to stop and restart the server, plus enough storage for backups and extracted files.
On Linux, .NET may also require an ICU package. Depending on the distribution, that package is commonly named libicu, icu-libs, or libicu-dev. If ICU cannot be installed, CounterStrikeSharp documents the alternative environment setting DOTNET_SYSTEM_GLOBALIZATION_INVARIANT=true; use that only when the distribution’s normal ICU package is unavailable.
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How the CounterStrikeSharp installation chain works
CounterStrikeSharp is not a replacement for Metamod:Source. Its official documentation describes Metamod:Source as CounterStrikeSharp’s main way of communicating with the game server. Metamod loads first, CounterStrikeSharp loads through that framework, and CounterStrikeSharp then discovers plugin DLLs.
| Layer | Purpose | Where it belongs | First verification |
|---|---|---|---|
| Metamod:Source | Provides the server loader and game hooks used by CounterStrikeSharp. | game/csgo/addons, plus a search-path entry in gameinfo.gi |
meta list |
| CounterStrikeSharp | Provides the .NET API and plugin runtime. | game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp |
Console message CounterStrikeSharp.API Loaded Successfully. |
| Your plugin | Adds a specific server feature through CounterStrikeSharp. | game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp/plugins |
CounterStrikeSharp’s plugin list or css_plugins list, where supported |
Installing a plugin DLL without the two frameworks leaves the server with nothing that can load it. Installing CounterStrikeSharp without registering Metamod leaves the runtime unable to communicate with the game.
Step 1: Stop the server and make a rollback copy
Stop the CS2 server completely before editing files. A running process can overwrite configuration or keep old binaries in memory while you are copying new ones.
- Use the hosting panel’s Stop control, or stop the dedicated-server process from the machine’s service manager.
- Copy the entire
game/csgodirectory to a dated backup location. - Make a separate copy of
gameinfo.gi. Keep the original outside the active directory so you can restore it if the server fails to start. - Record the server operating system and the exact CS2 installation path. Uploads made to a similarly named test or staging directory will not affect the active server.
Do not delete an existing addons directory. The installation requires merging new directories with existing content, not replacing unrelated extensions.
Step 2: Install Metamod:Source
Download the matching build
Obtain the current Metamod:Source CS2 build for the server’s operating system. For a new CounterStrikeSharp installation, the getting-started requirements call for a 2.x development build, build 1467 or newer, with KHook support. A build for the wrong platform will not load even when the folders look correct.
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Extract the files into CS2
- Open the archive and locate its
addonsdirectory. - Upload or copy that
addonsdirectory intogame/csgo/. - When the file manager asks whether to merge directories, choose the merge option. Preserve existing files that belong to other server extensions unless the Metamod package specifically supplies a replacement.
After extraction, Metamod’s files should be under the active server’s game/csgo/addons tree. If you see a nested path such as game/csgo/addons/addons, the archive was copied one level too deep.
Add Metamod to gameinfo.gi
Open the gameinfo.gi file inside the active game/csgo directory. Under the Game_LowViolence csgo_lv entry, add the Metamod search-path line specified by the current official guide:
Game csgo/addons/metamodKeep the line in the same search-path section as the other CS2 game paths and preserve the file’s existing braces, quotes, and indentation. A malformed brace or an edit made to a different copy of gameinfo.gi can prevent Metamod from being found.
Confirm Metamod before continuing
- Save the file and start the server.
- Open the server console or the console log.
- Run
meta list. - Confirm that Metamod appears as loaded.
Do not continue to plugin installation if meta list cannot find Metamod. CounterStrikeSharp depends on this layer, so a later plugin error would only obscure the original problem.
Step 3: Install CounterStrikeSharp with its runtime
Choose the first-installation package
Download the current CounterStrikeSharp release marked with runtime for the server platform. The bundled .NET runtime is important on a fresh installation because the machine may not already have the major and minor runtime version required by the release.
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Merge the CounterStrikeSharp files
- Open the CounterStrikeSharp archive.
- Copy its
addonsdirectory intogame/csgo/. - Merge directories when prompted; do not create a second top-level
addonsfolder. - Check that the resulting path is
game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp. - Start or restart the server.
A healthy startup prints the message CounterStrikeSharp.API Loaded Successfully. in the server console. Treat that message as the CounterStrikeSharp checkpoint: Metamod can be loaded while the .NET runtime or CounterStrikeSharp files are still incomplete.
Linux runtime check
If the message never appears on Linux, inspect the startup log for a .NET globalization or ICU error. Install the distribution’s ICU package—often called libicu, icu-libs, or libicu-dev—and restart. Where installing ICU is not possible, set DOTNET_SYSTEM_GLOBALIZATION_INVARIANT=true in the server’s environment before launching it, then restart and check the log again.
Step 4: Put the plugin DLL in the required layout
Check the plugin release before copying
Use a release that says it targets CounterStrikeSharp rather than a plugin built for another CS2 framework. Read the release notes for its required CounterStrikeSharp version, CS2 or Metamod compatibility, and any dependencies. Some plugins also ship configuration files, gamedata, language files, or dependency DLLs that must be copied to locations other than the main plugin folder.
Create the DLL and folder paths
The standard plugin directory is:
game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp/pluginsCopy the plugin’s compiled DLL into that directory. CounterStrikeSharp’s Hello World instructions also require a subfolder whose name exactly matches the output DLL name. For example, if the file is ExamplePlugin.dll, use:
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Copy supporting files where the plugin specifies
Keep plugin-specific configuration, gamedata, language files, and dependency DLLs in the locations supplied by that plugin’s release notes. A DLL in the correct directory can still fail if its required gamedata or dependency is missing. Avoid moving all files into the plugin folder as a guess; CounterStrikeSharp plugins do not share one universal layout for supporting files.
Step 5: Restart and verify the plugin
- Stop the server if it is still running after the file copy.
- Start it again and wait for the normal CS2 startup to complete.
- Confirm that Metamod is loaded with
meta list. - Confirm the CounterStrikeSharp startup line
CounterStrikeSharp.API Loaded Successfully.. - Open the CounterStrikeSharp plugin list. The hosting procedure also documents
css_plugins list; use that command if it is supported by the installed build. - Read the server log for the plugin’s own load message or an exception identifying a missing dependency, incompatible API, or invalid configuration.
CounterStrikeSharp’s Hello World guide notes that replacing a DLL in its plugin folder can trigger automatic hot reload. Hot reload is useful for iterative changes, but a full server restart is the clearest verification for a new installation, a framework update, or any dependency change.
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| Component | Expected location or action | What a wrong result looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Metamod files | Extract the package’s addons directory into game/csgo/. |
Metamod is absent from meta list. |
| Metamod registration | Add Game csgo/addons/metamod under Game_LowViolence csgo_lv in the active gameinfo.gi. |
Files exist but the loader is not discovered. |
| CounterStrikeSharp | game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp, installed from the with-runtime package on the first install. |
No CounterStrikeSharp.API Loaded Successfully. message. |
| Plugin DLL | game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp/plugins, with the required DLL-name-matching subfolder. |
The plugin is missing from the plugin list. |
| Plugin support files | Use the paths in that plugin’s release notes for configs, gamedata, language files, and dependencies. | The DLL is detected but logs a missing-file or dependency error. |
Why a CS2 plugin does not load
Metamod is not listed
Run meta list. If there is no loaded Metamod entry, check that you edited gameinfo.gi in the active game/csgo directory, placed the search-path line under Game_LowViolence csgo_lv, and copied the Metamod build for the server’s operating system. Restore the backup if the server stops starting after the edit, then correct the path and syntax.
CounterStrikeSharp never reports a successful load
Confirm that the complete with-runtime package was extracted, rather than a package that assumes an existing .NET runtime. Verify the exact directory game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp. On Linux, resolve missing ICU libraries or apply the documented globalization-invariant environment setting, then restart.
The plugin is absent from the list
Check the exact path, filename, and folder name. The DLL must be under game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp/plugins, and the required child folder must match the DLL name. Then check the plugin’s compatibility notes and required dependencies. A plugin compiled for another framework will not become compatible merely by changing its folder.
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The plugin appears but throws errors
Read the first plugin-specific exception in the console rather than only the final shutdown message. Restore the plugin’s supplied gamedata, configuration, language, and dependency files to their documented locations. If the error began after a CS2, Metamod, or CounterStrikeSharp update, verify compatibility before replacing files at random.
Hot reload does not behave as expected
Automatic reload may occur when a DLL is replaced, but it is not a substitute for a clean restart after a first install or framework change. Stop and start the server, then repeat the three checkpoints: meta list, the CounterStrikeSharp loaded message, and the plugin list.
Upgrading CounterStrikeSharp and plugins safely
Upgrade CounterStrikeSharp
- Stop the server and back up
game/csgo, including the existingaddons/counterstrikesharpdirectory. - Download the latest CounterStrikeSharp release that matches the server platform and current compatibility requirements.
- Copy its files over the existing installation and merge directories.
- Use a runtime bundle when the required .NET runtime major or minor version changes. For upgrades that keep the same required runtime, the installation notes say a separate runtime bundle is not needed every time.
- Restart and verify Metamod, the CounterStrikeSharp success message, and the plugin list.
Upgrade plugins
Back up each plugin directory and its configuration before replacing a DLL. Read the new release notes for API, gamedata, or dependency changes. Replace the DLL and supporting files exactly as instructed, then perform a full restart if the plugin depends on a framework or game update.
After a major CS2 update
CS2 updates can change game binaries and affect loader compatibility. Recheck the Metamod build, CounterStrikeSharp release notes, and every plugin’s compatibility statement after a major game update. Do not assume that a previously working DLL remains safe simply because its file path has not changed.
Choosing a hosting setup for CounterStrikeSharp
The installation is practical only when the server environment gives you control over the required files and restarts. If you are selecting a managed CS2 host, evaluate the following before ordering:
| Evaluation point | Why it matters | Question to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Operating-system support | Metamod and CounterStrikeSharp packages must match the server platform. | Which server operating systems and architectures are supported? |
| File access | You must edit gameinfo.gi and upload the addons tree. |
Is full SFTP or an equivalent file manager available? |
| Backups and rollback | A bad loader edit or update should be reversible. | Can you download, restore, and schedule backups of game/csgo? |
| Restart controls | Framework and plugin changes require reliable restarts. | Can you stop, start, and view the live console without support intervention? |
| Patch update cadence | CS2, Metamod, and plugins can become version-sensitive after game updates. | How quickly are server images and documented compatibility notes updated? |
| CounterStrikeSharp documentation | Clear instructions reduce path and permission mistakes. | Does the host document CounterStrikeSharp installation and troubleshooting? |
No reliable dated benchmark establishes that one hosting provider loads CounterStrikeSharp faster or more reliably than another. File access, backup control, restart access, and documented compatibility are the measurable requirements for this installation.
Quick Recap
Final installation checklist
- The server is stopped and
game/csgoplusgameinfo.giare backed up. - Metamod:Source 2.x Dev Build 1467 or newer with KHook support is installed for the correct operating system.
gameinfo.gicontainsGame csgo/addons/metamodunderGame_LowViolence csgo_lv.meta listshows Metamod loaded.- CounterStrikeSharp was installed under
game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp, using the with-runtime package for the first installation. - The console prints
CounterStrikeSharp.API Loaded Successfully.. - The plugin DLL is under
game/csgo/addons/counterstrikesharp/plugins. - The required subfolder name exactly matches the DLL name.
- Plugin-specific support files are in the locations specified by that plugin’s release notes.
- The plugin appears in the supported CounterStrikeSharp plugin list after a restart.
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